JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, job Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, job made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals discover about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he said.

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that guests must pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.